Winter

Winter

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Adventures in Gardening

This is one corner of our porch now. This is Maple Corner. My husband wants to learn how to graft Japanese Maples. He bought root stock that won't be here until November. In the meantime he is gathering different varieties to graft them to. We have this beautiful area full of these different kinds of Maples. The wind and the heat is hard on them here in the summer. They need to be protected so that is why he has them here.

I like Zinnias almost as much as sunflowers. Last week my husband went outside while I was doing dinner dishes and planted 72 plants. They are all coming up. I am so excited. to have that many to plant. I still have lots and lots of seeds left.
I just love seed packets. I like looking at them and looking at the pictures. I am so glad these still have lots of seeds in them.
These are a black eyed Susan vine that my daughter planted for her flower garden. It has been so cool and wet they are growing in the shed under lights last week they started blooming. I have never seen this kind of flower before every day they just grow prettier and prettier.

This is part of the work bench where the lights are now with some of the seeds. I am starting to think maybe it is time for a green house. We can't do any wood working projects until we get these plants outside. We have all of our herbs coming up now.

Do you remember last fall when my husband and I went down to a very old park here in town and we picked up acorns from the old, old Cork Oak Trees? We planted them in a barrel and these are what have come up this spring.

Just some things we have been doing around here, well there I go again, not me, I just take pictures and follow my husband around. He does all of the work.
Thanks for stopping by today,
~Kim~

21 comments:

Pom Pom said...

Oh Kim! That looks like a lot of fun! One year I had rows and rows of giant zinnias. The maple grove will be wonderful.

Tamara said...

From acorn to the mighty oak... it's enthralling to imagine who will be shaded by its branches.

camp and cottage living said...

Kim
Now who are you trying to kid? I know you work
very hard in your garden.
Are any of your DH's trees a sugar maple? I don't think you'd ever get any syrup there though.
I agree, it's looking like you could use a green house!

TexWisGirl said...

too cute - he does all the work. and great work, he does! :)

Anonymous said...

Black eye susan vine... never heard of that... love that rich yellow!

Kessie said...

Wow, so many plants! The black eyed susans look weird. Is that a black center or a hole in the flower? Seems I've run across the name in books, but I've never seen one before. Also, those maples look so pretty. I'm sure they'll do fine in that corner because it's so sheltered.

Jacque. said...

WOW...look at all those plants and trees! And, yeah...that's you...the slacker. {grin}

Gumbo Lily said...

There's a lot of work there. I'm a zinnia lover too. CAn't get enough of them and so many varieties to choose from!

Alica said...

Hey...somebody's got to take the pictures! :) I love your plants...Maple corner is lovely!

Meg said...

Arg! I wish I had gotten my seeds started this year. I'm so far behind and I have sprout envy. ;) Those black eyed susans are so pretty! They look like impatiens, but cuter. Hey if you want a greenhouse I'll help you build it! :D

Thistle Cove Farm said...

How wonderful your seeds are sprouting; I need to get mine in pots...perhaps this week. So much to do, so little me.

Kim said...

I agree with Meg, I have sprout envy. You planted stuff last week and already have sprouts? Remember my sunflowers from last year?? Sigh.....

Debbie said...

Soo much energy and work. I love it! The Black eyed Susan flower is soo pretty, and quite different. And I love the Maple corner. So many wonderful ideas. I think a green house is definitely in order. Enjoy your day!

Empty Nester said...

Well, at least your husband will get out there and actually do something. Mine went out and got the pump going but that was because he didn't want to pay the bill for the city water if I ran out of rain water to water the garden with. (How many times can I use the word 'water' in one sentence?) Anyway, all my seeds are coming up too and some I've already planted in the garden!

moosecraft said...

Zinnias are a close second to morning glories with being some of my favorite flowers! The Black eyed susan vine is something I might look to adding to my garden this year... along with those everblooming hydrangeas.... oh my.... i hope planting season gets here soon!

Debbie said...

Very nice, lucky you!!

Vintage Gal said...

Beautiful plants. I have never heard of black eyed susan vine, but I am sure going to try and find some. They are beautiful ;-)

Nellie said...

Your flowers are really looking good! I chuckled when you said your husband does all the work, and you just follow him around with the camera.:)

Sue said...

What a treat for this farm girl to come and visit your gardening ideas, I am so interested in how your dh is going to graft the maples, just keep following with that camera and reporting. ~smile~ Zinnias are one of my favorites too, Kim, and hopefully I will write a post about how and why I love them so. Everything looks wonderful at your place. My lavender survived the frost, but our veggies had a little damage, but dh said they would be fine. Hope you are having a wonderful day today, we are just relaxing and I am trying to catch up with blog visiting.
Love,
Sue

Dawn said...

Maple Corner! I like it!!
And I do so love the Black-eyed Susan! So cheery:)

Yes...I am so glad I homeschooled...so worth every minute!

Patrice said...

I love zinnias! They were one of my mom's favorite and I think of her whenever I see them! I just bought a huge package of zinnia seeds to put around the house.